The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-28
KANSAS CITY AS A HOST.
THE PRESIDENT ACCEPTS THE IN
VITATION.

VITATION.
An Exchange of Compliments Be-
tween the Chief Magistrate and the
Spokesman of the Committee-A De-
scription of the Famous Book of In
vitation With 81 900 Names and
Six Water-Color Sketches.
WASHINGTON, July 27.-The Kansas City
delegation which came to Washington to
invite the President to visit Kansas City,
Mo, during his contemplated Western trip,
were accorded a special reception in the
East room of the White House to-day
There We're over 100 persons in the party,
including ladies. They filed into the East
room in couples and ranged themselves in a
emi-circle, and as soon as the President en-
tered he was met by Mr. Mcdonald, who
presented G. Fl. Allen, chairman of the
delegation, and each of the other members
in turn.
THE INVITATION.
When this formality was over Mr.. Allen
advanced and addressed the President in the
following words:
Mr.. PREsIDENr-This delegation represents
the merchants, manufacturers physicians, bank
erS and men OF business generally OF Kansas
CITY, who have turned aside from our ordinary
daily avocations to be the bearer to yourself
and Mrs. Cleveland of this invitation over their
own signatures of 81 900 citizens of the City Of
Kansas, in the State Of Missouri, expressive of
their earnest desire that you visit their city at
such time during the coming autumn as may best
suit your own convenience and the eXigencleS
of the great public trust resting upon you. The
invitation cannot be regarded as coming only
from kansns City, as that city Is the product OF
Il nifslN Tlr.ff la
lakes, vast in extent, and has for twenty years
been pouring forth ithe prodigality of its accu-
mulated savings of money and noticeable per
centage of its most energetic, capable and pro
gressve citizens. We believe that somewhat
extended visit to this great country on the part
of the Chief Executive of the nation is entirely
in the line of plain public duty, and viii be more
than this blessing in the end to this region and
to the natiOn.s You are not only the Executive of
the nation but the recommeuaer of its legisla-
ton, and in the exercise of your functions to a
great degree joint legislator ! am, there
fore charged with the responsibility of press
ing upon your attention for serious conSidera-
ton the advisa5ility Of such an extended and
leisurely trip through that wonderful country to
which our own city Of Kansas. practically two
cities in one, is the main gateway. May we so
hence in justifiable expectation that we may
have the pleasure and privilege of seeing you at
our own city.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
The President replied as follows:
Mr.. ALLEN AND GENTLEMEN: | should not be
frank with you if professed that the invitation
which you have just now so pleasantly and cor
daily extended was the first intimation have
had of your desire that should see you at your
beautiful home. have thought that any trip
| might make bringing me in your
neighborhood would be incomplete
and wanting in advantage and profit
if it did not include short stay in your active
stirring city. / am specially pleased that the
invitation which you so kindly extend to me
the parties to it are the people OF KonsaS City,
desirous of exhibiting to their servant and the
Chief Magistrate of all the people what they
have done and contributed toward the natioual
greatness and prosperity, of which every
American citizen is, or should be,
proud; and the pleasure which the non
political feature of your invitation gives me is
Increased by the fact that Kansas City is repre-
sented here by parties who are actually engaged
in the divers enterprises which have made your
city great and prosperous, and that every inter
est which she fosters has place in the delega-
tion see before me. want to see your city,
and / can discern no opportunity to do so unless
| extend my trip TO st. Louis, already determined
upon, and include Kansas City among
the places l shall visit The, considera,,
ton have already given the subject
and the heartiness and sincerity Of your invita-
ton induce me to accept it at once. My time
upon this contemplated trip will, Of course, be
limited and many places which | should be glad
to see must te passed by. But ] am so free
from doubt as to what should do in response
to your invitation. that think it would be af-
fectatiOn to do otherwise than to assure you
that your city shall be included in my scheme.
I cannot now fix the exact date when | will bc
with you, but shall be glad to arrange that and
other details hereafter with those acting in your
behalf might add, in general way, that the
time of my visit will be between the list and 18th
of October.
The Presidents remarks were loudly
cheered, and as the applause subsided he
turned to Mr.. Allen and remarked sotto
voce:
If this is an evidence Of the way you will treat
me when get to Kansas City, ! don't know
when shall be able TO leave there
THE INVITATION BOOK.
President Cleveland then spent some time
in examining the invitation which was lying
on q table beside him. IL is a large volume
handsomely bound in seal skin and bearing
on a white satin panel inserted IN the cover
the words: Kansas City to President Glove
land, greeting, 1857 The first leaves Of
the book contain six allegorical figures in
water colors illustrative of the resources of
Kansas City and the States of Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Texas, Colorado and Indian Territory
Kansas City is represented by a winged
female figure seated on the hemisphere, on
which is traced the names Of the States of
which Kansas City is the gateway.
The second sketch (Kansas) IS figure
bearing a sheaf of wheat in her arms and
CARRYING in her hand sunflOwer
Missouri is represented by a maiden seated
in sheaves of wheat At the feet of the fig
ure is a cornucopia from which fruits, vege-
tables and cereals have fallen in profusion
Some chimneys in the distance recall Mis-
souri's manufacturing industries.
Vulcan fittingly illustrates the mineral
resources of Colorado. The last conception
of the artist is his happiest. 1t is an Indian
maiden just awakened from slumber Out
Of the mist surrounding her comes the spirit
of progress, bearing in her left hand q
wreath and whispering 10 her promise Of
what the future has in store for her when
she Indian Territory shall have been made
a State.
Then follow the 2l,OO0 signatures which
were obtained in several days Tire Presi-
dent having completed his examination Of
the invitation was introduced 90 the Indies
accompanying the party, who told him
frankly that tLey were not half rs desirous
of seeing him in Kansas as they were Mrs
Cleveland The doors leading TO the corri-
doris had IN the meantime been thrown open,
and the delegation passed. through the Rcd,
Green and Blue rooms. They then pro-
ceeded TO the steps leading to Che War De
partment, where bhe party was photo